Unite Wins Appeal

Unite has won its appeal to overturn the ruling that forced its members to abort the first of the planned strikes that should have started last Tuesday. The strikes are now officially back on, with next Monday looking the likely start date for the first five day walk-out, unless of course an agreement is reached.

The reaction to the successful appeal was the chanting of “we are the champions” by Unite members waiting outside the courtroom, but Derek Simpson a Unite official stated it was not a day for triumph as they shouldn’t have been in this position in the first place. He also called for BA to go the extra mile in reaching an agreement.

However defiant a BA stated, that Unite strikes had twice failed and would fail again, claiming thousands of Unite members would ignore the strikes and come to work regardless and help BA to fly 70% of its customers.

Coalition Says No To 3rd Runway At Heathrow

The newly formed government between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats has announced that the 3rd runway at Heathrow will not be going ahead. Whilst the outgoing Prime Minister Gordon brown was a strong supporter of the project it seems David Cameron and Nick Clegg don’t share his views.

Not content with putting the brakes on Heathrow the new coalition are extending this stance to the other major London airports, newly owned Gatwick and another BAA airport Stansted will not be allowed to add additional runways in the near future.

This will come as a major blow to BAA who have been pushing for the new runway ever since the plans were drawn up 7 years ago, added to the fact that Stansted will not be allowed to extend will be a big disappointment, especially after they had the backing of the previous Prime Minister. The new Government is thought to be in favour of giving the rail network an overhaul.

But BAA argue that by denying Heathrow the opportunity to expand it will fall behind other European airports. The news will be strongly greeted by environmental activists and home owners within the proposed 3rd runways’ flightpath.

BA Wins High Court Battle

BA yesterday won a high court ruling, forcing its cabin crew to abort its plans for the first of the planned four, five day walkouts, once again the legibility of the ballot was in question, with the strikes being called off due to a technicality.

The technicality in question was the Union’s failure to inform its members that there were 11 spoilt ballot papers. A ruling that didn’t sit well with Unite leader Tony Woodley, who said it was a disgrace and it questions if you have the right to strike in this country which was a fundamental human right.

Though Unite have set the ball rolling in an attempt to appeal the ruling, three judges are hearing their argument and if successful they can appeal and have the ruling overturned. Failing that the Union has said it will carry out another ballot on industrial action.

BA admit they have merely postponed the strikes as the dispute causing them has still not been settled. But Willie Walsh has called for Unite to take time and reflect on the situation in the hope of no more strike action.

The airline is still being hampered today despite the court win as it came to late in the day after it had cancelled flights already, Heathrow being the hardest hit airport.

It is thought the original dispute has now been settled but travel perks that were removed by Willie Walsh for striking workers have not been returned and this is now the main sticking point.

More Ash Cloud Chaos

The Uk returned to the ash cloud mayhem that it saw last month as both Heathrow and Gatwick were forced to close last night, as the latest ash cloud again caused massive disruptions to the travel industry.

The majority of the UK Northern airports were closed along with Scottish airports as the airlines fears were confirmed when the decision to close Gatwick and Heathrow was made. Though the airports have now re-opened there are more delays expected today.

Richard Branson the CEO of Virgin Airways has blasted the closures and insisted there was no evidence that jet engines would be compromised in the ash clouds as all test flights reported no problems. He also added that the over-reaction was beyond a joke, comments you can understand what with the massive losses airlines are suffering.

BA is expected to announce a £600million annual loss this year and with the latest wave of cabin crew strikes set for tommorow you can understand the frustration of the airlines, talks are being held today between the union Unite and BA in an attempt to avert more strike action

BA To Defy Strikes

British Airways are planning to run at least half of its flights from Heathrow airport during the first of the four, five day walkouts by cabin crew, which starts next Tuesday. Amazingly none of the flights at Gatwick and London city airport will be affected according to BA.

The airline says that 60% of its long haul and 50% of its short haul flights will operate as normal as they dig in deep over the pay and conditions row with union Unite. The four five day strikes will have one day between each strike but as the damage will already be done it is basically a 20 day strike.

BA contingency plans are to hire 8 aircraft from other rival airlines along with pilots and crew, whilst its short haul flights will be catered for by it’s own staff. While it has also made arrangements with 50 other carriers to re-book its passengers onto alternative flights if need be.

BA CEO Willie Walsh has called for the Union to call off the strikes and think of the job security of its members. Both parties have called for more talks but have yet to materialise.

Uk Firms announce £165 million ash cloud costs

Thomsons Holidays and Easyjet have released the expected costs so far from the Icelandic volcano eruptions that is still wreaking havoc accross Europe. The owner of Thomson's TUI said the ash cloud had cost £90 million up to date due to 175,000 holiday cancellations.

Easyjet stated there bill was currently at £75 million but both firms were confident that they would recover a large part of the money from EU governments. An Easyjet cheif blamed the authorities for not having contingency plans in place.

Yesterday a Thomsons plane that left Exter airport was bound for Maderia but after a three hour flight the ash cloud had moved over Maderia forcing the plane to return to Exeter resulting in a 6 hour flight round trip.

Further disruptions are expected today due to the ash cloud at Spain, Portugal, France and the Canary Islands.

Fresh BA Strike Imminent

Unite have announced that it will carry out four separate 5 day strikes which are in the same time period as a UK bank holiday weekend, school half term and the start of the world cup, the first planned strike will take place on 18th May-22nd May with more strikes planned for 24th May, 30th May and the 5th June.

British Airways CEO Willie Walsh has condemned the strikes but insists Gatwick and London city airport will operate as normal with Heathrow will still run a substantial number of flights.

Unite officials have stated the strikes can still be averted if BA return to the negotiating table with meaningingful intent, however BA have already set about putting contingency plans in place for the upcoming strikes including leasing planes and putting passengers on rival airlines.

As the pay and conditions dispute rumbles on it is thought the main sticking point now is cabin crew workers want their travel perks re-instating after they were removed by BA as punishment over the first two stikes which cost BA £45 million.

At a cost of around £7 million a day a 20 day strike would be an enormous cost for BA to absorb added with the current ash cloud problems you wonder if the cabin crew workers would have jobs to come back to.